England have lost the first two matches, to Australia, as expected, and to the West Indies, to considerable dismay.
Where do we go from here?
England may go on to win all their remaining matches. That will leave them wondering how they got off to such a desperate start. But even a sequence of wins will make retention of the Cup unlikely.
For the second time running Lisa Keightley opted for a batter at No 7. This was the unspoken admission of grave doubts about the first six. Lauren Winfield-Hill was looking for her first 50 in six years; Amy Jones was out of form and Tammy Beaumont and Nat Sciver can’t score a century every time they go to the crease.
The only newish face in the batting line-up, Sophia Dunkley, had to wait her turn in that seventh place.
The team balance places the onus on the bowlers. Of the seven batters only Sciver and the captain will turn their arm. In the two matches thus far 44 wides have been bowled. These are figures familiar from recent seasons in the home competitions; at international level they are unacceptable.
Cricket is a cruel game. The player most under pressure dropped Deandra Dottin off the first ball of the match. Dottin (31) went on to add 81 with Hayley Matthews (45).
Sophie Ecclestone then took two wickets in an over, with Dottin run out in between. That was all three of the West Indies’ top batters dismissed, but England were unable to exploit this turn of fortune. Shemaine Campbelle (66) and Chedean Nation (49*) added 123 for the fifth wicket. This was the ultimate proof of the team’s recovery from their dire tour of England three years ago where they were like orphans in the storm.
Any Changes likely?
Will Keightley stick to the same team as in the first two matches? Her reign thus far has been characterised by an extreme unwillingness to experiment. There is but one other batter in the squad, Emma Lamb; her exposure to top-level cricket has been minimal. All the other candidates still await the chance to prove themselves, from the relatively experienced Eve Jones to the teenage Alice Capsey. Keightley was not willing to take a punt on any of them.
If she does change the batting line-up for the South Africa match (Monday, 14 March), it will be very late in the day, really an admission of defeat.
The bowling is another matter entirely. It is most similar to the batting problems in the recurrent choice of Katherine Brunt and Anya Shrubsole to take the new ball.
There is no doubting their past records; they have given outstanding service. But why has there been such a dearth of quick-bowling talent that makes Brunt’s survival into her late 30s so essential to English success? Against WI Brunt, Shrubsole and Sciver went for a combined 6.22 runs per over and took a single wicket.
Most sensible teams pick at least six bowlers; WI opted for eight and the eighth bowler, Stafanie Taylor herself, took took 1-21 off four overs.
Saran Glenn lost her usual accuracy last year and with it her place in the current side. So no wrist-spinner aboard. She was replaced in the test series by Charlie Dean, but she hasn’t found a place in New Zealand. England went into these first two matches with five front-line bowlers plus the skipper. She didn’t bowl against Australia who put up a record score against England (310-3). Let’s hope it wasn’t desperation that caused her to come on in the second game.
Sophie Ecclestone recovered from the mauling she took against Australia (0-77) to return the quite outstanding analysis 10-4-20-3.
When batting and bowling are under the cosh, it is little surprise that the English fielding lapsed too.
England still haven’t won a game since they left home. Clare Connor’s big restructuring plans for English cricket are taking a time to hit their mark.
